Scovill Sculpture Park

Sculpture Garden of Decatur is accepting submissions for an outdoor sculpture exhibition. The juried exhibition space offers local, regional, national, and international sculptors opportunities to showcase and sell their creations while enhancing the cultural environment of Decatur. The goal for 2018 is to install 10 sculptures for a three-year cycle. Sculptures will be placed in highly visible locations between the Scovill Zoo and the Children's Museum of Illinois, which together attract approximately 165,000 visitors annually.

All sculptures must be for sale and made of materials that can withstand harsh Midwest weather without requiring maintenance beyond occasional washing. The honorarium for accepted works is $3,000, payable $2,000 on delivery and $1,000 at pickup. An additional $2,500 People's Choice Award will be given to one artist in September 2018. Artists will receive round trip mileage reimbursement at $0.50 per mile (up to $250 total) for sculpture delivery and pickup, free hotel accommodations for 3 nights on delivery dates, and a host assigned to assist with logistics. Sculpture Garden of Decatur will provide a boom truck and additional labor for installation if required. The sculpture pad is approximately 5 feet x 5 feet, with a few larger sites available.

Artists must deliver work during the week of August 13, 2018, and pick up artwork in August 2021. An artist's reception with donors takes place on Saturday evening, August 18, 2018, where the artist is expected to describe their sculpture to the public for up to 3 hours. Sculpture Garden of Decatur receives a 20% commission on any sculpture sold during the exhibition. Submissions are evaluated on artistic merit, public safety, appropriateness, durability outdoors, and creativity. The application fee is $20. Submissions must include a resume, photos of a maximum of three sculptures (with maximum three images of each), and a brief description of each sculpture (500 words maximum). One application per artist. Notification of selections will be provided July 14, 2018.